Taconic Parkway road trip: Things to do on your way from NYC to Upstate NY

Those who are in a hurry to get from New York City to Albany take the Thruway. Those who love to drive take the Taconic State Parkway. This 104-mile-long motorway is considered a masterpiece of highway engineering. Conceived at a time when the act of driving was considered a means to itself, the road seems to hit every hill between Columbia County and the northern reaches of the New York City area. Along the way are scenic rest stops, sculpture parks, some great shopping and other treats. Here’s a look at some of the highlights.

While the Taconic ends (or starts) in northern Westchester County, it’s possible to drive all the way to the South Bronx on the connected Sprain Brook and Bronx River parkways. These highways have their own sites of interest, most notably the world-famous Bronx Zoo and the New York Botanical Gardens, both right off the highway.

Soon after the Sprain Brook joins the Taconic, the highway crosses the scenic New Croton Reservoir. The lake is open to fishing with approved boats (permit required) and the park on the west side of the reservoir allows access to the scenic stone dam, as well as the Old Croton Aqueduct Trail that extends for 22 miles south before fizzing out in suburbia.

New drivers on the Taconic are often amazed to see a sign in northern Westchester: Donald J. Trump State Park. The story is that Trump bought the land for $2 million in the 1990s, tried to build a golf course but met too much opposition. In the end, he donated the 450-acre, undeveloped parcel to the state, taking a $100-million tax write-off in the process. The “park,” such as it is, is currently closed.

A real park further up the road is Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, which offers picnicking and other activities, centered around a massive pool. Supposedly, the pool is big enough to hold 3,500 people, but it’s hard to imagine there being enough room for water with a crowd that large.